The choice of the C-130 aircraft was dictated by the need to directly embed the ambulance inside the aircraft as the small patient had to be assisted and continuously monitored through the sanitary equipment installed inside the pediatric ambulance.
The C-130J of the Italian Air Force, in fact, is the only aircraft in Italy capable of loading an ambulance on board for this type of transport.
Since the aircraft identified for the mission was already busy for the medical repatriation of a soldier from Germany to Rome and it was necessary to change the crew due to "crew rest" limits, the situation room of the Air Squad Command coordinated the transfer of the fresh crew from Pisa to Ciampino with a second aircraft, in order to allow the C130J to leave as soon as possible for Alghero.
After loading the pediatric ambulance of the "Blue Cross" of Sassari on board, together with the medical team needed to assist the child, the aircraft of the Air Force, at 23.02, took off from Alghero to the airport of Genoa, from where the ambulance continued to the "Giannina Gaslini" pediatric hospital.
Since the beginning of the year twelve emergency transport operations have been carried out by airplanes of the Italian Air Force from the airport of Alghero, a reference point for sanitary flights in the north of Sardinia.
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Source: AM Alghero Airport (SS) - t.col. Francesco Demontis
